Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovering ₦853 billion in alleged crime proceeds within the past year, while stressing that the real test lies in how the funds are deployed.
In a post titled “Making Recovered Funds Impactful” on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi wrote:
“The Commission deserves our commendation … even though we are aware it’s just a tiny fraction of the funds looted from the public treasury … Beyond this recovery, therefore, what truly matters is the utilisation of these funds in a verifiable and accountable manner … Nigerians want to see impact. We must be able to trace where and how these recovered funds are invested.”
Obi highlighted Nigeria’s challenges, including over 20 million out-of-school children and more than 100 million living in acute poverty, calling for strategic investment in education, health, and economic uplift.
According to a related report, the EFCC said it recovered ₦364.5 billion in local currency and US$326.5 million (as foreign currency) from illicit sources between 2023 and 2024.
By praising the recovery while asking for accountability, Obi seeks to shift the public discourse from mere headline achievements to meaningful outcomes that benefit ordinary Nigerians.
